Boy Scouts of America to sponsor annual Tribute to Heroes

Published: Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006 12:00 a.m. CST

By Ken Doubler
There are heroes all around us. Sometimes they are people who rise to the occasion under extraordinary circumstances. Sometimes they are people who work quietly for their community year in and year out.
The Three Fires Council of the Boy Scouts of America began their Tribute to Heroes event in Dekalb County in 2003. Oct. 5 marks the fourth annual event being held at Kishwaukee College Conference Center. Beginning at 6 p.m. with a social hour, the program for the event begins at 7:00 p.m. This year, the honorees are Chuck and Kathy Siebrasse, Sally Stevens, the late Don Bark, and Cliff Golden.
Event organizers realize there is no possible way to identify and properly honor all area heroes. This event will strive to properly recognize a handful of the deserving heroes - the obvious and the unsung - from our communities each year with the hope that such gratitude can be felt by all heroes and others inspired by their stories.
At the event, there will also be a special presentation honoring area veterans and those presently servicing in the U.S. military. Family members of veterans or of someone presently servicing in the military are encouraged to send in photos and information about their loved ones. These can be sent to The MidWeek office, 119 North Maple Street, Sycamore, IL 60178, or by e-mailing to kdoubler@ midweeknews.com.

Chuck & Kathy Siebrasse
As a team and as individuals, Chuck and Kathy have served our community for more than 30 years. Former owners and publishers of The MidWeek, their commitment to community service is exemplary.
Chuck is a U.S. Army veteran having served in Vietnam as a medic. He earned the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal for Heroism and for Meritorious Achievement, and the Army Commendation Metal. Currently he is the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, was Co-Owner-Publisher of The MidWeek for 19 years, and was a firefighter/ paramedic with the DeKalb Fire Department prior to that. He is a current board member with Suicide Prevention Services, Batavia; current Co-Chair, DeKalb Corn Fest Corn Boil since 1985; recipient of the Kishwaukee Community Hospital Heritage award in 2003, and has been involved with youth in many capacities.
Kathy was the 1990 Athena Award recipient; 2002 Heritage award winner; serves on the board of the Joseph F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center where she is President-Elect for 2007; Co-Owner-Publisher of The MidWeek for 19 years, was president of the DeKalb Education Foundation for fours years after being founding board secretary; is involved with TAILS and a host of other activities including her current involvement with Suicide Prevention and the 2006 City of DeKalb Sesquicentennial Core Committee. Currently Kathy serves as District Director/Legislative Aide since 2001 for the Sycamore office of State Senator Brad Burzynski. Kathy was raised in a Boy Scouting family as her grandfather, father, and brother were all Eagle Scouts.

Sally Stevens
With 32 years of service to Northern Illinois University in the President's office, Sally has more than 44 years of community and university service attached to her resume. A resident of Oak Crest Retirement Center, she has served as editor of the Oak Crest resident newspaper for the past 6 years, and received the volunteer of the year award from Oak Crest. She has served nine years on the YMCA board, and as secretary for nine years; 25 years on the KSO/KSA board, with 10 years as secretary; a past president of the DeKalb Drama Club; and is the Sycamore/ DeKalb Pan-Hellenic president for 2006-2007, also serving as secretary for many years; 10 years on the NIU University Women's Club and 10 years on PEO/Chapter DX. She is a recipient of the 1998 Altrusa International's "Woman of Distinction Award", 2004 NIU Philanthropist of Year, and 2005 F.R. Geigle Award for Community/ University Service.

Donald Bark
In April, 2006, the south county community of Sandwich lost Don when he passed away. He represented the 4th Ward as alderman in Sandwich for many years and was an active member of the Sandwich Historical Society and the Sandwich Fair Association, in which he has served for 28 years and managed all vendor space for the county fair. He was a founding member of the Sandwich Emergency Ambulance Service and was retired from the City's police department, fire department and fire department board of trustees. Described by several, "he was always there to offer his service to the fair."

Cliff Golden
While a college student, Cliff intended to fill in as Scoutmaster temporarily until someone more permanent could be found. That was 30 years ago. Serving as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 33 in DeKalb, he has worked with hundreds of boys throughout the years, guiding 44 to the rank of Eagle Scout. Outdoor adventures have taken Cliff and his scouts to 47 states and 14 foreign countries.
In the past year, his group focused on Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. In December, April, and June they traveled to Mississippi and Louisiana where they worked on relief projects, collected and delivered over six tons of critically needed supplies, and raised thousands of dollars. Beyond scouting, Cliff is employed at Founders Memorial Library at NIU, has served on the Board of Directors for Lutheran Campus Ministry, and currently serves as president of the DeKalb Noon Lions Club.